Tag: 1 John 1:1-4

1 John 1:1-4

We announce the origin of things to you. What we heard. What we witnessed with our own eyes. What we examined and touched with our own hands. It’s about life. Life that was revealed, that we’ve seen. We swear to it, and we tell you that life forever with the father was made known to us. And we’re telling you what we’ve seen and heard so you, too, can be together with us. Surely, we’re together with the father and with his son, Jesus. We’re writing this so our joy may be complete.

Here is yet another Christmas story. Another account of how it all started.

Like all the Christmas stories, it was written quite a while later, and the people writing it down weren’t actually there. The eyewitness is metaphorical. But the story provides the basis upon which the community that tells it is built. And in that sense, it’s not about the community’s past, but about its present. What is essential to the community’s value system. What is essential to pass on to the next generation for the community to continue to exist.

With that in mind, here are four observations we can glean from these lines about this early community of Christians.

Their central value is life.

Their core principle is togetherness.

Their posture is invitation.

And their prime movement is toward joy.

Whether you agree with their specific theology or not, a community affirmation of life, togetherness, invitation, and joy sounds like a pretty awesome thing. Just about any community would do well to emulate that.